MotoGP Aragon: Espargaro’s ‘expectations high, Binder one of the best’

Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro was back on the podium at Motorland Aragon after a late-race fight for third.

Having launched from the head of the second row, Espargaro ran fifth for the opening stages of the Aragon Grand Prix. KTM’s Brad Binder having scored a lightning start from tenth to second before eventual winner Enea Bastianini dispatched the South African, and Ducati’s Jack Miller, into the path of the RS-GP.

“Expectations were high arriving to Aragon because I knew that it was one of the best tracks of the last part of the championship so maybe I started a bit hot,” Espargaro said of his rollercoaster weekend. “Crashed twice on Friday and lost my confidence. Saturday was tough, I couldn’t get into the top ten in FP3 and from then on I started to build my confidence again. Did a good qualifying, solid last place, and in the race too.

“I didn’t have the pace to follow Enea and Pecco [Bagnaia], I knew that they had something else but in the end third is super good for the championship and I’m happy to be back on the podium.”

Espargaro’s main issue in the 23-lap race was Binder on the RC-16, a battle he maintained from lap four until the penultimate revolution.

“Brad Binder is extremely good, one of the best riders on the grid without any doubt,” the Spaniard said of his race rival. “He doesn’t have the best bike at all without a doubt this year but he’s always strong, always extracting the best from the bike.

“The first part of the race it was difficult for me to overtake him. He was able to follow Enea! It was crazy.

“I decided to stay calm behind and wait for his tyre to drop and then in the last laps when I saw his pace started to drop I decided to overtake. Also knowing that with Fabio out of the game, you couldn’t